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ࡗ Resilience Within the Family Networks of Lesbians and Gay Men: Intentionality and RedefinitionThis article reviews the literature on gay and lesbian family networks as a way to identify the resilience processes that enable members to create and strengthen their family networks. Two processes, intentionality and redefinition, were identified. Intentionality refers to behavioral strategies that legitimize and support relationships. Redefinition refers to meaning making strategies that create linguistic and symbolic structures to affirm one's network. Brief comparisons are made to the literature on resilience in ethnic minority families, and careful study of the similarities and differences between gay and lesbian family networks, and other marginalized families, is urged.Family resilience research focuses on the relational processes that facilitate family survival, and even growth, under adverse conditions (McCubbin, Thompson, Thompson, & Futrell, 1999). Though family resilience includes attention to how family processes shape individual outcomes, the unit of analysis is more focused on family relationships than individuals (McCubbin, Futrell, Thompson, & Thompson, 1995). The resilience approach attends to both behavioral strategies and the ongoing construction of meaning within families (Thompson, 1999). Further, this approach locates families as actively engaged within their cul-

We surveyed 527 nonmetropolitan gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender people (GLBT) and inductively analyzed their responses to open-ended questions regarding the ''best'' and ''worst'' aspects of being GLBT in that area, and how to improve their lives as rural GLBT people. Field observations supplemented the qualitative data. ''Best things'' included close relationships, high quality of life, involvement with GLBT social networks or organizations, and self-acceptance. ''Worst things'' included weak and fragmented GLBT resources, living within a homophobic social climate, and lacking equal rights. Suggested improvements included pursuing civil rights, fostering a supportive climate, and strengthening personal relationships. Ways that family professionals can develop commitment to GLBT people, enhance existing services, and advocate for political change are discussed.

Community climate is the degree of support for GLBT people within a specific locale. In this paper we describe the elements of community climate, theorize how it is produced, and argue that this approach provides an important elaboration of Meyer's (2003) minority stress model. Furthermore, we present a new methodology for assessing community climate that could be used by any researcher with a geographically diverse data set that includes location identifiers such as ZIP code. In closing we discuss the theoretical, empirical, and practical contributions that could be made by GLBT family scholars who utilize this new technique for measuring community climate.

SUMMARY Heterosexism as an interpersonal dynamic at weddings was examined using feminist critical science. Data were collected from 45 gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people who attended focus groups. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender participants described multiple interactions in which they were devalued or hidden while het-erosexuality was elevated, as well as interactions in which they or another family member resisted heterosexism. Weddings were perceived to be difficult, and participation in them was questioned. As part of their critique of weddings, participants offered a vision of relationships that was based on commitment, rather than heterosexuality or material benefits. Results of this study were used to create a brochure and Website for educating heterosexual people planning weddings.